Ryan Leak

You're going to need to receive it because you crossed a line, because you forgot, because you were selfish, because you reacted, because you had a bad day or bad week or bad season.

And what you're hoping for is that somebody makes allowance for your fault.

What you're hoping for is that someone's going to give you grace.

And here's the other interesting part of forgiveness.

The other side of it is there are moments when you need to release it because someone else did the same things to you.

Forgiveness isn't about moral superiority.

I believe it's about a shared humanity.

It's about admitting that I've needed grace before and I'll need it again.

Therefore, I should be the kind of person who also releases it.

You see, when you and I don't release forgiveness, it's not like it just stays contained.

It leaks.

It leaks.

You don't just hold a grudge.

What you do when you hold a grudge is sometimes you also are holding anxiety.

You feel tense.

You avoid rooms.

You avoid names.

You avoid conversations.

And over time, the bitterness you're holding toward a person or group of people starts actually creating distance between people you actually love.

You get quieter, sharper, more guarded, not because they hurt you, but because someone else did.